I hope that your days have been filled with Polka Dots and Garden happiness. Mine have… from surprise birthday parties with friends I adore, to over night stays in my favourite country pub, celebrating my 2nd wedding aniversary with my best friend and companion and finishing the year with a family feast – well not all of my family, not even half really, just a few! Peppered in and amongst those glorious times were far more Polka Dots, far more I am sure than you’d care to read about.

And now, I find myself as you do too in January 2013. A little surprised that it appeared so quickly. But happy just the same and ready to get on with it. With all of its highs and lows, surprises and dare I say it disappointments, I am ready!

But what about your garden?

While you are quenching your thirst and hiding in shadows don’t forget about your garden, be it in the ground, in a pot or in many pots during these (gorgeous) hot summer days.

If your garden relies on a little help from the hose give it a big soaking when it needs. By big soaking I mean let the water really sink into the soil, down into the root ball and into the surrounding soil. You’de be surprised how far a plants roots will travel. Your garden will love it and you’ll be able to sit back with cool glass in hand and watch your garden flourish.

If your garden is an assortment of pots these will need more regular watering. Pots will dry out quicker than a garden bed especially with these hot dry winds we have been experiencing.

And if you have indoor plants don’t forget about them, they like a good drink too. Take your pot plant outside, imagine filling the pot with water and allow the water to get into every space within the soil then allow the water to drain out the bottom of the pot. Don’t let the roots sit in still water, generally, your plant wont like it. Yes, there are exceptions to this rule but we’ll keep it simple for now.

There is no one rule for watering indoor or outdoor plants. You need to look for signs that your plants need watering. Look to see if the foliage is drooping, feel the soil by sticking your finger into the soil and if you have pots try to lift them to see if they are light and need water or heavy and have sufficient. It’s all about understanding what each plant requires and how best to monitor it and it can take a little practice to get it right.

But be careful when you water because in many areas there continues to be Water Restictions and where Water Restictions have been lifted there are now Water Wise Rules that I have list below:

All hoses must now have a trigger nozzle

To avoid the heat of the day, watering is allowed before 10am and after 4pm

No hosing of hard surfaces such as paths and driveways. Washing vehicles is allowed.

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